More Migrants Seek Asylum in Macedonia

This year alone, 94 foreign nationals have sought political asylum in Macedonia, Macedonian police say.

Last year this number was 60.

Most, 46, came from Afghanistan, where Macedonia has troops stationed as part of the NATO ISAF force. Another 22 were Palestinian.

Others came from Sudan, Somalia, Iraq and Algeria. Three were from neighbouring Kosovo.

Macedonia was not these people’s first choice as a country of asylum, police said.

"Most come to Macedonia after being rejected by another Western European country," Ivo Kotevski told Balkan Insight.

"They see Macedonia as a temporary refuge before they attempt to enter the EU again."

Kotevski explained that when faced with being deported back home, some migrants try their luck in Macedonia, which offers refugees far less attractive conditions than countries in Western Europe.

Macedonia guarantees only their accommodation, food and healthcare. It does not provide asylum-seekers with any daily or monthly financial allowance.

Along with Serbia and Kosovo, Macedonia this year came under increased EU scrutiny for allowing its impoverished citizens to flood Sweden, Belgium and Germany after the EU lifted visa requirements on the two countries at the start of this year.

Kotevski said the country has a growing problem with illegal migrants. Only last week, police caught 17 Somalis and four Palestinians trying to enter Macedonia from Greece in order to reach Western Europe.

Over the past year, Macedonia has complained several times to the EU about an influx of illegal migrants entering the country from Greece. Macedonia says EU-member Greece is failing to take these people back despite its legal obligation to do so.